Automated batting tee apparatus

Abstract

An automated batting tee apparatus includes a housing having a top opening, a ball dispensing mechanism for feeding balls one at a time to above the top opening, a ball holder tube forming a batting tee disposed upright in the housing and aligned with the top opening thereof and having an upper end portion for receiving a ball and a lower end portion spaced below the upper end portion, and a drive mechanism arranged upright in the housing externally of and alongside the ball holder tube for vertically moving the ball holder tube and actuating the ball dispensing mechanism. The housing includes a base that rest on the ground and an enclosure having an inner shell on the base and an outer shell slidably mounted over the inner shell and adjustable to different vertical positions relative to the inner shell to adjust the height of the upper end portion of the ball holder tube above the ground. The drive mechanism includes a pair of spaced upper and lower pulleys rotatably mounted to a frame supported by the outer shell within the inner shell and a flexible endless drive belt extending over and between the pulleys and movable therewith. An actuating linkage intercouples the ball dispensing mechanism to the endless drive belt so as to move the ball dispensing mechanism between a ball blocking position and a ball releasing position as the ball holder tube is moved by the endless drive belt between a lowered ball receiving position and a raised ball hitting position.

We claim:  
     
       1. An automated batting tee apparatus, comprising: 
       (a) a housing having an enclosure with a top opening and an upright frame supported and extending upright in said enclosure in a laterally offset relation to said top opening of said enclosure and having opposite upper and lower portions;  
       (b) means for feeding balls one at a time to above said top opening of said housing;  
       (c) an elongated ball holder tube forming a batting tee disposed upright in said housing and aligned with said top opening of said housing, said ball holder tube having an upper end portion for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and a lower end portion spaced below said upper end portion;  
       (d) a drive mechanism arranged upright in said housing externally of and alongside and adjacent to said ball holder tube and operatively mounted to and extending between said upper and lower portions of said upright frame, said drive mechanism having a pair of upper and lower rotary elements respectively rotatably mounted to said upper and lower portions of said upright frame and a flexible endless drive element extending over and between said upper and lower rotary elements and movable therewith such that said endless drive element has a pair of lengthwise portions spanning between said upper and lower rotary elements which move in opposite vertical directions relative to one another upon movement of said endless drive element, said ball holder tube being located closer to one of said lengthwise portions of said endless drive element than to the other of said lengthwise portions of said endless drive element;  
       (e) a bracket supported and movably carried only by said one lengthwise portion of said endless drive element of said drive mechanism and extending laterally outward therefrom to where said ball holder tube at said lower end portion thereof is supported only on said bracket in said upright position aligned with said top opening of said housing and adjacent to and alongside said endless drive element; and  
       (f) drive motion providing means coupled to said lower rotary element of said drive mechanism for reversably rotating said lower rotary element in one or the other of a pair of opposite rotational directions so as to cause opposite vertical movements of said lengthwise portions of said endless drive element in one or the other of downward and upward directions and cause corresponding downward and upward reciprocal movement of said ball holder tube with said one lengthwise portion of said endless drive element relative to said top opening of said housing through a ball receiving and positioning cycle in which as said ball holder tube moves with said one lengthwise portion of said endless drive element in the downward direction said ball holder tube moves downward through said top opening of said housing and said upper end portion of said ball holder tube is lowered to a ball receiving position across said top opening of said housing for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and supporting the ball on said upper end of said ball holder tube and then as said ball holder tube moves with said one lengthwise portion of said endless drive element in the upward direction said ball holder tube moves upward through said top opening of said housing and said upper end portion of said ball holder tube with a ball supported thereon is raised to a ball hitting position spaced above said housing.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower rotary elements of said drive mechanism are upper and lower pulleys rotatably mounted to said upper and lower portions of said upright frame and said flexible endless drive element is a flexible belt extending over and between said upper and lower pulleys and movable therewith such that said endless drive belt has said lengthwise portions spanning between said upper and lower pulleys which move in opposite vertical directions relative to one another upon movement of said endless drive belt. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said drive motion providing means is coupled to said lower pulley of said drive mechanism for reversably rotating said lower pulley in one or the other of a pair of opposite rotational directions so as to cause opposite vertical movement of said lengthwise portions of said endless drive belt in one or the other of downward and upward directions. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes a base resting on the ground, said enclosure being mounted on said base and extending upright therefrom. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said upright frame also includes a side wall portion extending between and interconnecting said upper and lower portions of said upright frame and having a longitudinal slot defined therein, said ball holder tube being disposed along one side of said side wall portion of said frame and extending along said longitudinal slot of said frame, said endless drive element of said drive mechanism being disposed along another side of said side wall portion of said frame opposite to said one side thereof and extending along said longitudinal slot of said side wall portion of said frame such that said ball holder tube and said endless drive element of said drive mechanism are generally aligned with one another through said longitudinal slot of said side wall portion of said frame, said bracket extending laterally outward from said endless drive element through said longitudinal slot of and beyond said side wall portion of said upright frame to said ball holder tube such that said side wall portion of said frame is disposed between said endless drive element and said ball holder tube. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said drive motion providing means includes: 
       an electric motor mounted to said upright frame and having a rotary drive shaft; and  
       a drive motion transmission arrangement drivingly coupling said rotary drive shaft of said electric motor to said lower rotary element of said drive mechanism such that rotation of said rotary drive shaft of said electric motor causes rotation of said lower rotary element of said drive mechanism.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising: 
       control means for controlling the operation of said electric motor and thereby operation of said drive mechanism in moving said ball holder tube between said respective ball receiving and hitting positions of said ball receiving and positioning cycle.  
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said control means includes: 
       a battery disposed in said enclosure and removable therefrom through said base and being connected to said electric motor;  
       a pair of sensors each connected to said battery and mounted to one of said lower and upper portions of said frame for detecting arrival of said ball holder tube at one of said respective ball receiving and hitting positions of said ball receiving and positioning cycle and in response thereto capable of producing an electrical signal; and  
       a controller connected to said electric motor and said sensors for receiving said electrical signals from said sensors and in response thereto controlling the operation of said electric motor.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said enclosure includes: 
       an inner shell attached at a bottom end on said base and extending upright therefrom to an open top end of said inner shell; and  
       an outer shell adapted to removably slidably fit over and substantially cover said inner shell and extend from above said open top end of said inner shell downward toward said base.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said outer shell includes a top wall with said top opening of said housing defined therein. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said ball feeding means includes a ball feeder chute mounted to said top wall of said outer shell of said housing and extending inclined outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said chute having a discharge end located adjacent to said top opening in said top wall of said outer shell. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said ball feeding means includes a ball dispensing mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent to said top opening of said housing for undergoing movement between a ball blocking position and a ball releasing position so as to permit discharge of only one ball at a time to above said top opening of said housing during each ball receiving and positioning cycle. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said ball feeding means further includes an actuating linkage intercoupling said ball dispensing mechanism to said other lengthwise portion of the endless drive element of said drive mechanism such that said ball dispensing mechanism is actuated from said ball blocking position to said ball releasing position in response to said endless drive element moving said ball holder tube away from said ball receiving position. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said ball feeding means further includes an element biasing said ball dispensing mechanism to assume said ball blocking position in response to said endless drive element of said drive mechanism moving said ball holder so as to leave said ball receiving position. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
       said bracket has a threaded element supported thereon; and  
       said ball holder tube at said lower end portion thereof can be threadably seated on and removed from said threaded element of said bracket by turning said ball holder tube in respective opposite directions.  
     
     
       16. An automated batting tee apparatus, comprising: 
       (a) a housing including  
       (i) a base for resting on the ground,  
       (ii) an enclosure having an inner shell attached at a bottom end on said base and extending upright therefrom to an open top end of said inner shell and an outer shell fitted over and substantially covering said inner shell and extending from above said open top end of said inner shell downward toward said base, said outer shell having a top wall overlying said open top end of said inner shell and a top opening defined therein, said outer shell adapted to be slidably moved upwardly relative to said inner shell to remove said outer shell from over said inner shell, and  
       (iii) an upright frame having an upper portion attached to said top wall of said outer shell and extending downward therefrom in said enclosure and a lower portion spaced inwardly from said inner shell and above said base such that said upright frame is only attached at said upper portion thereof to said top wall of said outer shell and thus is vertically movable with said outer shell relative to said inner shell;  
       (b) means for feeding balls one at a time to above said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure;  
       (c) an elongated ball holder tube forming a batting tee disposed upright in said enclosure and aligned with said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure, said ball holder tube having an upper end portion for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and a lower end portion spaced below said upper end portion; and  
       (d) means in said enclosure mounted on said upright frame for supporting said ball holder tube and causing repetitive reciprocal movements of said ball holder tube in downward and upward directions relative to said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure so as to move said ball holder tube through a repetitive ball receiving and positioning cycle in which as said ball holder tube is moved in the downward direction said ball holder tube moves downward through said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure and said upper end of said ball holder tube is lowered to a ball receiving position across said top opening of said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and supporting the ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube and then as said ball holder tube is moved in the upward direction said ball holder tube moves upward through said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure and said upper end portion of said ball holder tube with a ball supported thereon is raised to a ball hitting position spaced above said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure.  
     
     
       17. An automated batting tee apparatus, comprising: 
       (a) a housing including  
       (i) a base for resting on the ground,  
       (ii) an enclosure having an inner shell attached at a bottom end on said base and extending upright therefrom to an open top end of said inner shell and an outer shell fitted over and substantially covering said inner shell and extending from above said open top end of said inner shell downward toward said base, said outer shell having a top wall overlying said open top end of said inner shell and a top opening defined therein, said outer shell adapted to be slidably moved upwardly relative to said inner shell to remove said outer shell from over said inner shell, and  
       (iii) an upright frame having an upper portion attached to said top wall of said outer shell and extending downward therefrom in said enclosure such that said upright frame is vertically movable with said outer shell relative to said inner shell;  
       (b) means for feeding balls one at a time to above said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure;  
       (c) an elongated ball holder tube forming a batting tee disposed upright in said enclosure and aligned with said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure, said ball holder tube having an upper end portion for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and a lower end portion spaced below said upper end portion;  
       (d) means in said enclosure mounted on said upright frame for supporting said ball holder tube and causing repetitive reciprocal movements of said ball holder tube in downward and upward directions relative to said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure so as to move said ball holder tube through a repetitive ball receiving and positioning cycle in which as said ball holder tube is moved in the downward direction said ball holder tube moves downward through said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure and said upper end of said ball holder tube is lowered to a ball receiving position across said top opening of said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure for receiving a ball from said ball feeding means and supporting the ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube and then as said ball holder tube is moved in the upward direction said ball holder tube moves upward through said top opening of said outer shell of said enclosure and said upper end portion of said ball holder tube with a ball supported thereon is raised to a ball hitting position spaced above said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure; and  
       (e) batting tee height adjustment means on said inner and outer shells of said enclosure for adjustably changing the vertical position of said outer shell along and relative to said inner shell to thereby change the height of said upper end portion of said ball holder tube above the ground.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said batting tee height adjustment means includes: 
       at least one wall segment on one of said inner and outer shells of said enclosure facing toward the other of said inner and outer shells and extending between upper and lower ends of said enclosure, said wall segment having a main track defined thereon and a plurality of vertically spaced branch tracks defined thereon so as to merge from and extend generally transversely to said main track at different positions spaced vertically from one another; and  
       at least one pin on the other of said inner and outer shells of said enclosure protruding toward said at least one wall segment on the one of said inner and outer shells and slidable along said main track of said wall segment by raising or lowering said outer shell relative to said inner shell and placeable in a selected one of said branch tracks by rotating said outer shell relative to said inner shell to position said upper shell in a selected one of a plurality of vertical positions along and relative to said inner shell and thereby place said upper end portion of said ball holder tube at a selected one of a plurality of heights above the ground.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein: 
       said at least one wall segment is a pair of said wall segments each disposed on one of opposite interior side portions of said outer shell; and  
       said at least one pin is a pair of pins disposed on each of opposite exterior side portions of said inner shell which are adjacent to said opposite interior side portions of said outer shell.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein each of said branch tracks has a generally L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said ball feeding means includes a ball feeder chute mounted to said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure and extending inclined outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said chute having a discharge end located adjacent to said top opening in said top wall of said outer shell. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said ball feeding means further includes a ball dispensing mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent to said top opening of said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure for undergoing movement between a ball blocking position and a ball releasing position so as to permit discharge of only one ball at a time to above said top opening of said top wall of said outer shell during each ball receiving and positioning cycle. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said ball feeding means further includes an actuating linkage intercoupling said ball dispensing mechanism to said drive means through said top wall of said outer shell of said enclosure such that said ball dispensing mechanism is actuated from said ball blocking position to said ball releasing position in response to said drive means moving said ball holder tube to said ball receiving position. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       control means for controlling operation of said drive motion providing means and being convertable between first and second conditions to selectively operate said drive mechanism in either an automatic mode or a timed mode in moving said ball holder tube repetitively in said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said control means has a switch movable between first and second positions to convert said control means between said first and second conditions and thereby to selectively operate said drive mechanism in either of said automatic mode and said timed mode. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said drive mechanism is placed in said automatic mode in response to said control means being converted to said first condition and said drive mechanism is operable to cause said ball holder tube to move through said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof in response to a ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube being hit by the batter. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said drive mechanism is placed in said timed mode in response to said control means being converted to said second condition and said drive mechanism is operable to cause said ball holder tube to move through said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof after said ball holder tube has paused and held a ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube in said ball hitting position for a preselected period of time. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       control means for controlling operation of said drive mechanism in an automatic mode to move said ball holder tube repetitively in said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof, said drive mechanism being placed in said automatic mode in response to said control means being adjusted to said first condition and said drive mechanism being operable to cause said ball holder tube to move through said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof in response to a ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube being hit by the batter.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: control means for controlling operation of said drive mechanism to selectively operate said drive mechanism in a timed mode in moving said ball holder tube repetitively in said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof, said drive mechanism being placed in said timed mode in response to said control means being adjusted to said second condition and said drive mechanism being operable to cause said ball holder tube to move through said ball receiving and positioning cycle between said ball receiving and hitting positions thereof after said ball holder tube has paused and held a ball on said upper end portion of said ball holder tube in said ball hitting position for a preselected period of time.